In her recent experience as a volunteer member of the Community Trust arts and culture committee, Sandra Salazar describes the experience as “eye-opening.”
“The process of navigating grant decisions really impressed me,” says the Colombian-born architect turned children’s advocate with the Family Resource Center. “It was my first time serving on a Community Trust committee. In fact, it was my very first experience as a volunteer – ever. Volunteering isn’t something we do in Colombia, it’s a concept I learned here in the states.
“I had a lot of ‘wow’ moments. I had no idea how many different organizations exist in our community, each with a passion to serve our community better. For example, I was amazed to learn about the Junior Symphony Guild that emphasizes outreach to schools with the highest participation in the free lunch program.
“The symphony goes to these schools and plays for the kids in a formation that puts them in the middle and encircles them. Can you imagine being a 6-year-old surrounded by all these amazing instruments and music?”
As a Latina, Salazar was particularly interested to see diversity represented in the grant proposals. “The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County has always had diversity in mind, so most of the organizations we reviewed are doing something along those lines already. For me, it’s important that we give a voice to those with a small voice – not only in programming, but also in the diversity of boards and staff. That piece is still missing in some organizations.”
Salazar especially enjoyed the site visits and reading each of the proposals. “It was like a light went on!” she says. “I couldn’t believe everything that people are doing. That was super powerful for me. The whole experience was incredibly fulfilling.”
The hardest part about being a Community Trust volunteer? “Deciding which organizations will receive grants. Thankfully, it wasn’t just my decision…there were seven of us.”
The Community Trust grant selection process concludes in December; grants will be announced in January 2016.
In addition to the arts and culture committee, the Community Trust also supports Boulder County nonprofits through responsive grantmaking in these areas: basic needs, civic engagement, education, environment, health and human services, and youth.
